Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §§ 54.041–54.048, 54.901 § 54.041
LIEN.
Operative Text
Sec. 54.041. LIEN. A landlord of a single or multifamily residence has a lien for unpaid rent that is due. The lien attaches to nonexempt property that is in the residence or that the tenant has stored in a storage room. Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3560, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.
Under Tex. Prop. Code §§ 54.041–54.048 and 54.901, Texas law grants a landlord of a single-family or multifamily residence an automatic lien — a legal claim against property — when a tenant owes unpaid rent. This lien attaches to the tenant's nonexempt personal property located inside the rental unit or stored in an associated storage room. The lien does not apply to property that is legally exempt under Texas law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Tex. Prop. Code §§ 54.041–54.048 and 54.901 provide landlords of single-family and multifamily residences with a statutory lien that arises automatically when rent goes unpaid. Compliant operators generally familiarize themselves with which categories of tenant property are considered nonexempt under Texas law, since the lien only attaches to nonexempt items located in the unit or a storage room. Because exercising a landlord's lien involves additional procedural requirements found elsewhere in the same statutory scheme, operators typically review the full scope of §§ 54.041–54.048 before taking any action to enforce the lien.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tex. Prop. Code §§ 54.041–54.048 and 54.901 establish that a landlord's lien for unpaid rent attaches only to nonexempt personal property inside the residence or a storage room — meaning certain categories of property are legally protected from this lien under Texas law. Tenants generally have the right to understand which of their belongings qualify as exempt and therefore fall outside the landlord's lien rights. Those who believe a landlord is improperly asserting a lien against exempt property may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Texas property law for general information about available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation